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This is it. Reading season has finally arrived! I don't do a lot of reading when the weather is nice because I spend most of my time outside. But now that it's getting darker earlier, I have time to dig into my to-be-read pile. Check out my October reading list below for some new fantasy books that are perfect for a chilly autumn day and a warm cup of tea. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Apples Dipped in Gold by Scarlett St. Clair
Autumn Chaos by Olena Nikitin
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Disclaimer: I love reading, but my 9-5 job has been crazy lately. I'm starting one of these books on Oct 1, but there's a 95% chance that I'm not going to read all 4 of these books by the end of October. If you have read any of these, please let me know what you think!
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For more information, check out these links:
Every writer dreams of creating the next bestseller. We all want to write an edge-of-your-seat, un-put-downable story that hooks readers from the very first page and takes them on an unforgettable journey. But how do you achieve that? What is the magic formula that transforms a good story into a legendary one? Why do so few authors manage to create that spellbinding thrall? Story Genius by Lisa Cron offers a compelling answer to these questions. Cron explains that humans are evolutionarily hardwired to crave stories. We seek answers to help us understand and navigate the world around us. Stories are the solution. They provide a safe and controlled setting for our minds to explore the possible outcomes and answers to our problems.  What I Loved About Story Genius
Summary
Story Genius by Lisa Cron combines wit and humor with a science-based method to create captivating stories. It’s not just another educational primer for writers; it's an engaging read that made me laugh while providing valuable insights. I highly recommend this book to any writer looking to take their work to the next level. Additional Resources
 I know I’m very late to the party here, but the Throne of Glass series means a lot to me, so I’m going to cover it anyway. Not only are these books fabulous to read, but they also played a major role in my writing development. Sarah J Maas is a very dynamic and impactful author. She writes vibrant scenes, breathtaking action, and complex plots. Her characters are flawed in ways that make them feel real. Maas masterfully weaves multiple character arcs together to create deep stories that are constantly evolving. This is an 8-book series, including the prequel novellas published in The Assassin’s Blade. Below, I’ve included my review of the first book in the series, Throne of Glass
If you're interested in reading more, check out these resources below:
 It's time to get back to book reviews. This week I'm reviewing an older book, first published in 2015. This book, Fantasy of Frost by Kelly St. Clare, is important to me because it sparked my very first What if? that eventually evolved into Oreia's story.
Fantasy of Frost is the first in the Tainted Accords series that follows Olina, an abused princess who has to find her way in the world while she maintains a tenuous peace with a neighboring nation. Olina's journey is one of self-discovery and tested loyalty. This book is packed full of action, suspense, and betrayal, and Olina is the kind of strong and compassionate protagonist that readers immediately fall in love with. There are some mature themes in this book including abuse and grief, so I recommend this book for a more mature audience. If you’re interested in more, check out these links:
 Betrayal, sass, and an epic comeback. Kill the Queen is a thrilling tale that has you rooting for the underdog the whole time. The book is great for readers looking for action, intrigue, and a little bit of romance.
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep is another book that I used as a comparative title while querying for Oreia’s novel. My work-in-progress has similar themes of betrayal and sacrifice with a hefty dose of action that I think readers of Kill the Queen will enjoy. If you’re interested in more info, here are some resources:
 Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow is the first installment in the three-book series, The Mousai. It is fun, fresh, and a little bit dark. Mellow has created a vivid world with interesting characters and a thrilling plot. It has magic, secrets, and enough plot twists to keep you hooked through every page. I recommend this book for fantasy lovers who are looking for a dark mystery with a touch of romance. I decided to do a review of this book because it is one of my comparative titles for my own work-in-progress that I'm getting ready to query this fall. I picked this book as a comparative title because it is an action-packed mystery with a strong female protagonist. I really think my book will appeal to lovers of E.J. Mellow’s The Mousai series. If you’re interested in more info, here are some resources:
 Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day is an action-packed romance novel. It has been a long time since I found a fantasy novel that pulls me completely into the story. Denali Day weaves a vivid world with an intricate plot and loveable characters. This book is marketed as a romance book, which is usually not my style, but Denali Day changed my mind.
Not only did I enjoy reading this book, but it was also a great resource for me as a writer. Here’s a tip for fellow writers. If you find that you love a particular author’s writing style, don’t just sit by and enjoy it! Learn from it. What do you like about that author’s writing? Is it the pacing or dialogue? For me, I was really impressed with Denali Day’s imagery. I used sticky notes to flag sentences or paragraphs that were particularly vibrant. I’ve developed my own writing style by studying her work. Denali Day is currently working on a new series, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next! If you’re interested, here are some more resources:
 Eragon by Christopher Paolini is one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. In fact, it played a major role in inspiring my own love of writing and desire to become an author.
This book weaves magic, dragons, and elves into an epic fantasy adventure. In fact, I love all 4 books in the Inheritance cycle. Eragon is a great place to start if you’re looking for your next fantasy series. As you can see from the picture I posted, my copy of Eragon is well-loved and has been read many times, but it's not just the novel that I love. Years and years ago, I read a story about Christopher Paolini and Eragon. I don’t remember where I saw this story, but it’s a tale of perseverance that paid off in an epic victory, and I love it. Paolini talked about how he couldn’t find a publisher for Eragon, so he sold it himself. He dressed up in medieval-inspired garb and presented Eragon at schools. Eventually, Eragon became a hit, and Paolini got a publishing deal. I love that story. It’s an inspiration to all of us. Never stop believing in the value of your work. If you love it, and you show the world how amazing it is, they will eventually believe you. Keep fighting! Christopher Paolini has since branched out from fantasy into sci-fi and has been publishing more novels, so we can look forward to many more great reads. If you’re interested, here are some helpful links:
 Writing fiction: a Guide to Narrative Craft, the 8th addition, by Janet Burroway, Elizabeth Stucky-French, and Ned Stucky-French is a great primer for self-taught writers looking for some professional direction as well as veteran authors in need of a refresher. This book covers the entire novel-writing process from developing plot, fleshing out characters, and world-building to tackling the revision process.
Each chapter ends with excerpts from published works and writing exercises that reinforce the key concepts of that chapter. I, personally, enjoyed the writing exercises because they gave me a great way to practice and experiment with new writing techniques. Although these exercises were developed for a classroom or group setting, I still found them helpful as a solo writer. They’re also great for busting writer’s block, if you find yourself stuck. Fun fact: chapter 13 from my current work-in-progress was originally written as Exercise #2 in Chapter 2 from Writing fiction: a Guide to Narrative Craft. Links:: My Goodreads Review Amazon page |
JenNifer AldenWelcome to the Untold Stories, my fantasy writing blog! Categories
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